On the night of 24 to 25 May, Ukraine experienced one of the largest air strikes since the start of the full-scale war. Russian troops attacked with several types of weapons — missiles, kamikaze drones and dummy targets. This was reported by Yuriy Ihnat, spokesman for the Ukrainian Air Force Command, during a televised marathon.
Of particular concern was the use of an X-22 missile launched from a Tu-22M3 strategic bomber. This super-powerful weapon with a warhead weighing almost a tonne is designed to destroy sea targets, but due to its low accuracy — the strike zone is up to 600 metres — its use in cities poses a deadly threat to the civilian population. ‘This is evidence of yet another terrorist plot by the Kremlin,’ Ignat said.
In total, according to him, Russia has launched 367 air weapons. Among them are almost 300 Shahed drones and imitation unmanned aerial vehicles. According to analysts, this number demonstrates the rapid growth of Russia’s production capacity.
Ukraine’s air defence forces worked together smoothly: 266 drones and 45 cruise missiles were destroyed. Air force, anti-aircraft missile forces, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups were involved in repelling the attack. However, it was not possible to intercept the ballistic missiles that were also part of the strike.
The consequences of the attack are tragic. According to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko, at least 12 people were killed and more than 60 were wounded. The most horrific incident occurred in the Zhytomyr region: three children from one family were killed, their parents are in hospital, and their mother is in critical condition.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the National Security and Defence Council’s Centre for Countering Disinformation, warned that Russia is preparing new combined strikes, which are expected in late May or early June.
The Kh-22, which Russia is increasingly using against Ukrainian cities, is an old Soviet design created in the 1950s. Its warhead weighs up to 1,000 kg and its speed exceeds 4,000 km/h. The cost of one such missile is up to half a million US dollars. The missile can carry both conventional and nuclear warheads.